Protective footwear with elastic closure band



Feb. 6, 1951 c. w. JOHNSTON PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR WITH ELASTIC CLOSURE BAND Filed May 11 C 17195) W JOHNSTON BY Patentecl Feh. 6 1951 razmuzr QEEICEE zi itoriic'rivug iroorrwsaa "CLOSUREBW JI'IIihELASTHC "Claim.

I "This inventiori rel ates to: overshoes and boots uthe wearenwhichrpermits entry ofi water or other general ,to'thatgrepresented in--Fig'. -1; a d i e n porat'ing closure means to make possible more expeditiousdoniiinjg and withdrawal of the boots;

' Fig. '3' is a fragmentary elevation of an alterna tive form; of Eboot ,1g aporti0n,; partly in section imatter- -withini the :bootmrsshoe. If the:;bootis use'drfor wadin gpurposes; zthezentryuof:-water is -;unobstructed:.ifathe:waterebecomes too deep and ethe zpurposetof-z theziboot-isi \defeated. If it is used merely for weather} protection-gdr ip f rom mainvcoats-"or outer igarments; invariably :entersthe {.bOOthBJIldi becomes-uncomfortable:to: the= vwearer. It vis -an object-of thisinvention, to provide: an article of footweart such as an boot. or overshoe which will besealedq at. its upper, portion around the leg of the "wearer ,to prevent the -;.entry, of i water or other undesirable material. iltis-aiuri.-ther .object/of-. the invention-to provide a sealing Qmeans which will haveia minimum effect in mak- ,ing. donningvor withdrawal ,of i the. article more I diificultthan it might otherwisebe. .Stillanother object; is to iproilider asealing, means which .will jgive minimum fdiscomfort to ,fthe wearer and gwhich w'ill'jthave no. effect in obstructing. blood fcircula'tion in the legpf the wearer. Still another Other-objects bf'the invention will become ap- I parent in readingthe annexed detailed descrip- {tion incon-nection with the drawings which show sever'al' non-limiting-embodiments "of the invention and its utilization on" footweari of various timentsshown-are not td'be construed as limiting, except as limita-tionsmay beimplied inconnectionwith theclaim-formingapart of this specification. 1

In the drawings in which'jsiniilar reference characters: represent. "similar partsTTFig; 11 is a sideeleva'ti'on bra boot, partly in sectionarid shpwing features of'the invention;

""1F ig. 2 isanTe1evationshowing'-, boots. similar in object is" to. provide a sealingarrangement which, 1

- "ing-positionbf adjustment :to S'hOWf featuresof the-inventionj .L'Fig3'4 is,;arr'e levation 'of boots of the type disfclosed i-n- F'igrB showing one in thesealirig position of adjustment and another in the non-seat- ,Figp5 is an elevation of 'a' boot leg portion, partly in section, showing an alternative aryrangement; and v Fig. 6 is-an-elevationshowing the boots of; the typeof Fi 5-in use.

In several-orthejijgures, thefootwear of the invention include foot j covering or shoe portions 10 which arefof any appropriate configuration 'andpreferably pornprise rubben-likeHself-supporting wielding material; usually; including a f seh iy e n rmal y .use in the onstruction of rubbersqgaloshes, and boots. From the-shoeportion In of 'thefootwear a-legcover ing portion l 2 extends: upwardly,; being of the Same generalicharacterfof-materia1 as is used -"for the toot-:cove'ring portion H1, this material preferably comprisingja rubber or rubber substitute material reinforcedif desired with jabric. 1Now-referring-particularly to' Figz 1 the bootleg ;--portion [2; is; constructed-for a 1ooseffit;,around the' leg ofthewearer'to enable easy donningpr -withdrawal= of the ,boot without-closures or strap arrangements; and to terminate at its illl ll jv 9nd l the Wea s. knee The pleara c anecessary for donning and, withdrawal; normaJlXperjmits aiwide gap' to exist-between the boot, and the leg, th wea I r iq la a th 'j op This "clearance per nitsithe entry of water or ih a -,u e cer ai condition t the ereaidiscomfort i t e Wea e Acwrdine amy vent on 'lrp rid rommet-Ho .e cle fl which Qn C s at. J 51cm. th in d ro hth yle p ion. ith i b t; th s ommetlpreferablyber ,ing. constitutedof spongerubbenp i I r .ie tg h e ness, r epresen edlby. the char ct r 15,130 take up "the1o earanc lb tweenrthe. boot mpe qe ..Ii 5 ,tarid the e eahofq h i wearenlal n ith sufiicient 50 added ,thiqkness r o that lightrpressurem 111 ,be

.exerted'rbyithe romme -upon:,the. leao th wearer. .'Th pon o .foa m te a h 0,5 'chosenas tovbewreadi yvyieldab is th t it ma adapt configuration ,i -wea er le a -th out. exerting. great enoujgh pressure to ause j discomfort or binding upon the wearers leg and yet, with sufiicient pressure to seal the top of the boot relative to the wearers leg and to deny the entrance of moisture or foreign matter into the space which would otherwise exist between the boot and the leg. Sponge materials of rubber or rubber substitute, of the type described, are known in the art and may readily be made with varying degrees of yieldability and flexibility. Thus, one skilled in the art may choose that composition of sponge material which is best suited for the purpose herein disclosed.

In Fig. 2, substantially the same form of boot is shown as that of Fig. 1, except that a closure [8 such as a slide fastener, may extend from the top of the boot part way down the leg covering portion to ease the donning and withdrawal of the boot. In this embodiment, the leg covering portion [2 may be constructed to embrace the leg of the wearer more closely than would the boot of Fig. 1 since opening of the closure l8 makes unnecessary the wide clearance relationship which obtains in the case of Fig. 1. Further, in Fig. 2, the thickness of the grommet l4, which is split adjacent the closure opening, may be less than that of the arrangement of Fig. 1 since the clearance space between the top of the boot and the leg of the wearer would be less than in the case of Fig. 1.

There may be times during which sealing of the boot against the wearers leg may be unnecessary whereupon it may be desirable to provide ventilation of the clearance space within the boot. To this end, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide a clip 20 in the form of a U-shaped member of metal or the like, which may he slid down over the top of the boot, to compress locally a portion of the grommet 14 thereby to form a vent between the space within the boot and. the atmosphere. If desired, this clip may take the form of a decorative rosette 22 or the like so that the presence of the clip upon the boot will have aesthetic appeal.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative boot arrangement in which the yieldable self-supporting leg portion of the boot I2 has superimposed thereon a somewhat flexible top portion 24, the top 26 of which has a lesser periphery when unstretched than the diameter of the top 28 of the normal leg portion l2. The portion 24 may be fabricated separately and attached to the portion l2 by suitable cementing or vulcanizing. While the drawing shows the two portions continuous, it is to be assumed that there is a difference in the materials or arrangements thereof. The unstretched periphery of the uppermost portion 26 is preferably slightly greater than the periphery of the wearers leg at the point where it would lie upon the leg, to avoid substantial restriction of the wearers leg. The grommet I4 is secured to and within this uppermost portion 26 to provide a light seal against the wearers leg as previously described. When sealing of the boot is unnecessary, or when donning or withdrawing of the boot relative to the leg and foot is accomplished, the elastic top portion 24 of the boot may be folded down over the flexible self-supporting portion l2 of the boot as shown in dotted lines, enabling full ventilation of the clearance space of the boot proper to the atmosphere and further enabling easy donning and withdrawal of the boot. When sealing of the boot against the wearers leg may become necessary, as in a rain storm or in Wading, the flexible boot portion 24 with the grommet l4 may be drawn up over the wearers leg to afford sealing against the wearers leg and further to augment the length of the boot so that wading depth is increased.

Fig. 4 shows one boot on a wearer in sealing relation, and also shows the upper portion 24 of the other boot folded down and over the main boot portion to enable ventilation, donning, and withdrawal.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternative arrangement of the invention which, in efiect, is a modification of the arrangement of Fig. 1. Herein, the grommet l4' of sponge rubber or the like is extended materially in an axial direction so that its length, axially, is considerably greater than the thickness of the material. This arrangement provides a substantially greater bearing surface of the sponge rubber material against the leg of the wearer, reducing the unit pressure of the grommet against the leg and thereby reducing its binding effect without interfering with its sealing effectiveness. Furthermore, in the boot of Figs. 5 and 6, the leg portion l2 of the boot proper is shown as being expanded, or having a somewhat funnel-like configuration at its upper portion 30, the grommet I4 being secured within the funneled upper portion 30. This arrangement may allow a somewhat trimmer appearance of a boot, particularly of a long boot which may extend to or beyond the knee, since the open space within the grommet, when the latter is compressed, during withdrawal or donning, occupies a portion of the funneled boot portion 30 and becomes substantially equal in its open area to the area lying within the walls of the boot portion l2. Thus, a relatively large volume of grommet material may be installed in the boot to provide effective sealing and greater yieldability in the grommet, without the need of enlarging the sectional area of the boot upper portion proper while still maintaining adequate ease for donning or withdrawal.

While the drawings and description cover footwear of less-than-knee height, the rinciples of the invention may also be applied to boots or Waders which extend above the knee, and to other articles wherein light sealing engagement is desired between an article of apparel and a limb embraced thereby.

It is further to be noted that the grommeted boot herein described prevents flapping of its upper portion against a wearers leg. Such flapping, besides being uncomfortable, causes unnecessary stocking wear and, at times discoloration of stockings. Also, in cold weather, the grommet serves as a heat retainer preventing the escape of body heat from the boot. The grommet also serve to prevent constriction of a wearers lega great advantage over prior boot closures embodying tightening straps or lacings. Such straps or the like are not wholly efiective as seals, and cause added complication in donning or withdrawing the boot.

Though several embodiments illustrating the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention may be applied in other and various forms. Changes may be made in the arrangements, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference should be had to the appended claim for definitions of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

An article of flexible protective footgear comprising substantially inelastic self-supporting foot and upper portions, the upper portion being adapted to embrace the leg of the wearer, and a circular band of elastic yieldable impervious 5 8 foam like material secured to the inner surface REFERENCES CITED of said upper portion ad acent its top edge, said band being of a thickness to provide material The following references are of record in the elasticity, said band having a length in the direcfile Of this p nt: tion of the axis of said upper portion substan- 5 UNITED TE PATENTS tially greater than the band thickness, and the part of said upper portion below said band being gg g D .g A necked inwardly downwardly from a point im- 1 2 fi 22 1931 mediately below said band to a lesser diameter 2244871 G W J 1941 than the part of the upper portion embracing 10 umz urg une said band, the band extending inwardly-slightly FOREIGN PATENTS beyond the inner face of the necked in portion. Number Country Date CAREY JOHNSTON- 304,988 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1929 

